It is exhilarating – the first moment you step off the ship. Suddenly there is nothing between you and Antarctica. Hundreds of miles of land, snow and ice. You get a sense of how early explorers must have felt stepping off into this vast wilderness – the thrill of the unknown: the adrenaline rush of true exploration, adventure and awesome photography.

For this tour we are offering a unique opportunity to fly over the drake passage, so if you have issues with sea sickness, or just want to save some time this is a fantastic trip for you.

It is one thing to visit a place but it is another to immerse yourself in it. To not just see the sights but to understand the history, get to know the wildlife and come home with many iconic photos and unforgettable memories.

If you are interested in joining Art Wolfe and Justin Black on this exciting voyage please fill out the form below and you will be notified before the tour is officially announced.

**Please note that the pricing included above is only an estimate it is possible the price for this tour will be more, that is just to give interested parties an idea of what the price might be.**

FLY THE DRAKE
A two-hour flight takes you from Punta Arenas, in the Chilean Patagonia, directly to Antarctica where you board your expedition ship. You thereby avoid the stormy seas of the Drake Passage and experience only the best Antarctica has to offer.

Our tour offers a boutique-style wilderness adventure, not a cruise. Feeling more like a private yacht than a cruise ship, our small expedition vessels give us privileged access to Antarctica, allowing you to go where larger ships can’t. Disembarkation is efficient so you spend time exploring, not waiting.

Here are some highlights about this exciting voyage:

• 13-night private charter of M/V Meredian, a very recently modernized luxury charter vessel, and one of the few in Antarctic waters suitable for private small-group exploration. It’s very rare to have this much time in Antarctica, and to have control over the movements and landing itinerary of an expedition ship as we do.
• Generous and personalized instruction throughout by Art Wolfe and Justin Black.
• Small group size, limited to no more than 12 guests, in eight cabins with proper beds (not bunks), all with en suite bathrooms.
• Includes round-trip flights across the Drake Passage aboard a BAE 146 Jet. Flight duration is about two hours, which compared to crossing the rough seas of the Drake by ship gives us an extra four days in Antarctica, vastly improves comfort, and increases general safety.
• Frequent landings at penguin colonies and our favorite photography locations to make the most of photographic opportunities along the coast and on the islands.
• Excursions using two full-sized Zodiacs among the icebergs get us close to seals, whales, and scores of penguins “porpoising” through the water.
• Visits to the U.S. Palmer Station and Ukrainian Vernadsky Antarctic bases, accessible via special connections due to our small group size, though they are off-limits to larger ships.
• Highly experienced, gracious, and accommodating professional captain and crew, with whom we have developed an excellent working relationship.
• Family-style meals prepared fresh throughout the day by the ship’s chef, accommodating a variety of dietary restrictions.
• Three nights accommodations in one of our favorite hotels in Punta Arenas, Chile, (one night after the voyage, and two before the voyage to ensure everyone and all their baggage are present in Punta Arenas when we fly south to meet the ship).